The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1887-02-03
TIE BASILISK.
a STORY OF TO-DAY.
CHAPTER Xxx,

in the darkness. lay the body which
Plowitz took for me! Close to the muir
derer stood his intended victim. He
would have murdered the blind man
the blind man was the only witness Of
his crime.
The only witness? Nay, what do !
hear? The rustic Of a dress, the sound
Of voice that sounds strangely out of
place sn this atmosphere Of sudden hor-
ror.
..Oh, what have you done-what
have you done?"
The voice Of Mary Fortescue, low,
but full of anguish and despair.
Go back, Miss Fortescue," said
Plowitz, in that curt tone which il not
discourteous when used to women in
times Of great emergency. "A burglar
has broken into the house. I have
secured him."
"A burglar!'
There was nothing but incredulity
and anguish in the tone-n0ne Of the
fear which Plowitz read in it.
do not be alarmed" he said, have
secured him. Hardy and l will take
him down to the lodge and send for
constable
but You have hurt him-you have
killed him." she moaned.
NONSENSE he replied, losing all
pretence of suavity; '.nonsense-he is
stunned. Go to your room. He is re-
vivingr' and he stood over the figure,
as if to secure the prisoner. Then he
suddenly started back wildly. my
Godr' he painted hoarsely. II have
killed Hardy!''
You have killed him!' echoed Mary
in = voice in which horror and Joy
seemed to my ear to b strangely
blended.
NONSENSE he repeated more
harshly than before.
He stepped over the PROSTATE form,
and advanced few steps up the
passage towards where Mary was stand
ing, while love and dread had been
fighting in her breast, until she learnt
that her worst fears, at any rate, were
without foundation.
Miss Fortescue you must forget this
scene." His words were nothing but a
formula appropriate to any trying oc-
casion. The way in which they we're
uttered made them a fierce command
a deadly menace. "You must forget
this scene. You must 60 into your
room. You must remain there until
you receive word that you may come
ont. Shall l conduct you to your
chamber"
The nearer approach Of the doctor
was enough to give effect to his COM
mands. Mary hastily retreated, and,
with great relief, heard her lock her
door.
Plowitz returned-this episode took
but few seconds-to the body Of
Hardy, and. taking matchbox from
his pocket. struck light, for, with the
closing Of Mary Fortescne's door, the
gloom was again deep. There was nc
gas. but pair of candles stood in
sconces Oh the passage wall. He lii
these, and then anxiously but carefully
examined his victim.
dead beyond question:" he said
"Plowitz never needs to strike second
blow. Poor devil! what sent you into
my way like this? Had you been fooline
me about this fellow Coplcstone? All, il
were bitterf ooling for thee if thou wert?'
..Poor devil!' he went on in diff
ferent tone; ..what q splendid stroke
that would have been for Coplestone
Scarcely tell-tale drop of blood to b.
seen. But. friend Hardy, though it il
a neat piece Of work, must not KEEP
the evidence Of my skill too long on
VIEW
He stood upright, looking about hin
in thought. and then took step to
wards the door of the room in which
was concealed.
This would do for the present." b,
muttered, ..for the key is in the door
and if take it with me, no one coull
enter"
felt that was in for either q life
and-death struggle with detected ant
armed murderer, or for long vigil il
the dark with the corpse of the muir
dered man. l decided instinctively ant
Immediately for the former. / deter
mined to attack him while encumberet
with the body, and endcavor to posses
myself of his dagger. Beyond that
distinct intentions had not time to 90
but felt that the possession Of the dag
ger would be in itself inspiration a
to the proper course. But while be
gan to prepare myself for the momen
of action. Plowitz suddenly ceased hi
CHASTITY task of dragging the helpless
heavy form along the floor.
Fool that | ami" he exclaimed
"The secret stairs"
Surely he could not mean to take tn,
corpse out on to the main staircase int,
the full light of the hall? Although il
that seqncstered and uncanny house
would have done him but little harm il
he had. But no! The stairs of which
he spoke were a new revelation to me
BE raised with some difficulty q por
ton of the flooring, and began to dc
scend, dragging Hardy along with twt
or three vehement pulls till his heat
and shoulders were well over the open
ing; one more vigorous effort, and thu
form began to disappear also. There
was something horribly weird in seeing
the body jerked by invisible hands. ant
being drawn head foremost down tn,
cavity. And after it had disappeared
/ could hear the humping of the heav.
heels down the stair; but I did no
wait for Plowitz to finish his unhallowe,
journey. / stole from my hiding-place
Keeping well out of the candle-ligh
that my shadow might not be thrown
anywhere within his sight, l reachet
round to the trap-door, which reste,
with the slightest possible slope agains
the wall. A violent shake might bring
it down. The jarring Of the stair
under the tread of the murderer an,
the heavy body of his victim might d.
it. So to cover my retreat, and,
might be, to horrify one whom l be
lieyed to be subject to superstitious ter